A Very Good Year

Once again, it’s that time of year when, as the latest jingle for Old Navy tells us, “The holidays will hit you like a brick!” Clever ad and oh! so true. With its trade shows and travel, the fall season blew by like so many leaves. It’s been a great year here at Cosmetic Packaging & Design, with lots of interesting stories to write and progress being made in all areas.

The last new feature for 2004 is the Top 20 Global Beauty Companies report (p. 34). Researching the largest manufacturers and markets of cosmetics, fragrances and personal care products—around the world—in terms of sales was, initially, a daunting task. Doing so at the end of the year is even more complicated.

What sales figures should be used? 2003? 2004? Finally, because all companies have filed sales for 2003, the decision was made to rank the Top 20 according to those results. Where the companies are private, an estimate has been made based on research and advice from experts. All estimates are noted. We also decided to include any financial results filed in 2004 in the profile for each company. For most, it’s been a pretty good year—excellent for some and struggling for a few.

After compiling the ranking and overview, I found that these most successful companies fall into two main groups—those that make and market beauty products with perhaps a few accessories thrown in, and those that offer a much wider assortment of goods in which beauty is just one category. Even those that focus primarily on beauty products, diversify within that category, such as L’Oréal with its many brands across all channels of distribution, and Estée Lauder Companies with its distinctive brands serving specific consumer groups in the department and specialty store channel.

Chanel is really the only beauty company with a single brand and a single distribution focus—but then it is “The” Chanel and beauty is part of its greater fashion franchise. We’ll have the opportunity to get to know Chanel beauty better in the January/February issue of Cosmetic Packaging & Design, as it has been voted (by almost a two-to-one margin) The Company of the Year: Excellence in Packaging. I’m looking forward to finding out how this fashion/beauty icon maintains its packaging excellence and innovation, and writing all about it in January/February 2005.

Other changes coming in 2005: there will be eight issues of Cosmetic Packaging & Design, up from six for the past three years, which was up from four. Magazines must constantly look for ways to expand too. We will also launch an improved Website in early 2005. So visit www.CosmeticPackagingandDesign.com often and see what enhancements we have in store. While you’re there, register for our E-mail news blasts, so we can keep you up-to-date between issues.

Wishing You All a Happy, Healthy Holiday Season,

Janet Herlihy
Editor
[email protected]